On Friday, Media Mogul Oprah Winfrey made a surprise visit to FAMU graduate Martez Prince’s Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center in Charlotte, NC. Winfrey was in Charlotte on her nine-city Vision 2020 Wellness Tour promoting the importance of being healthy when it come to their mind, body, and soul.
Prince’s pharmacy, which opened five years ago, educates customers about their medication and assist them on acquiring the necessary medication. He has a one on one relationship with each of his customers. His customers say the doctor’s advice has made a difference in their lives. His work got Oprah’s attention and she wanted to tell him job well done.
“I could actually cry about the kind of courage and perseverance and determination it takes for a young brother to be working in a big box pharmacy,” Oprah said. “And say something doesn’t feel right about this - I think I am going to start my own business and I am going to do that for my community. I could weep. I could really weep - that’s what God wants - that is what we are supposed to do. We are supposed to look inside ourselves and say ‘oh I just don’t want a job - I want to use my life and service and how can I do that - make a living - offer myself and still get paid,’ and that is exactly what Dr. Prince did.”
Oprah believes what is happening at Premier should happen elsewhere.
“This Premier Pharmacy is not just an advantage and a great offering for this community,” Oprah said. “It’s a model for the country.”
Dr. Prince says Oprah’s visit confirms he is doing the right thing. He left a big box store to open up his own business.
“It really means a lot that you notice us,” Dr. Prince said.